FGCU past: Dorms being planned ahead of schedule

Swimming pools, private bedrooms and security alarms are among the amenities being offered by four companies vying to build dormitories for Florida Gulf Coast University.

FGCU's preliminary plans had not called for on-campus housing for several years, but when recent surveys indicated a strong demand for it, FGCU officials moved the creation of student housing from low to high priority. The university put out a request for private companies to submit bids for the construction of a 250-bed facility with the goal of having on-campus housing by fall 1998.

Three of the companies said they could meet that deadline; one said it could have housing ready by the time classes started Aug. 25 of this year - if FGCU officials gave them the go-ahead by Valentine's Day.

The four bids contained some similarities - all called for apartment-style living, recreation facilities, including a pool and a commons building. For potential students, some of the most obvious differences occur in the amenities - some promised washers and dryers in each room, computers or exercise equipment or dishwashers.

The price also varied, ranging from a low of $6 million to a high of more than $9 million.

All four provided bids to build the structure and lease it back to the university for management, and two provided bids to manage the facility as well. A third provided a management plan, but stated that the university would have to provide financial security.

The bidders were Ajax Building Corporation, a Tallahassee company with offices in Tampa; University Housing Services, based in St. Petersburg; MPC Associates, a subsidiary of the Student Loan Marketing Association in Washington, D.C.; and Capstone Development, of Birmingham, Ala.

A fifth company, Austin, Texas-based American Campus Life submitted a non-conforming proposal asking that the university take on some of the front-end infrastructure costs. The company submitted its credentials in hopes of remaining part of the bid process.

We are gratified that there was substantial interest in student housing at FGCU, said Curtis Bullock, vice president of administrative services.

When the university of West Florida, a 30-year-old university, recently sent out a request for student housing proposals, it also received four bids, he said.

While the university will open in August without dormitories, officials hope students will be living on campus as early as fall 1998.